Whole Building Design Guide
Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers
This is a guidance document with sample specification language intended to be inserted into project
specifications on this subject as appropriate to the agency's environmental goals. Certain provisions, where
indicated, are required for U.S. federal agency projects. Sample specification language is numbered to
clearly distinguish it from advisory or discussion material. Each sample is preceded by identification of the
typical location in a specification section where it would appear using the SectionFormatTM of the
Construction Specifications Institute; the six digit section number cited is per CSI Masterformat TM 2004 and
the five digit section number cited parenthetically is per CSI Masterformat TM 1995.
SECTION 48 30 00 (SECTION 13600) – BIOMASS ENERGY ELECTRICAL POWER
GENERATION EQUIPMENT
SPECIFIER NOTE:
resource management: Once energy efficiency is maximized for a project, providing the required
energy via clean, renewable resources is more sustainable than using fossil fuels which are finite
in supply and incur environmental impacts throughout their lifecycle. The Federal Energy
Management Program (FEMP) provides information on technologies that have been proven in
field testing or recommended by reliable sources.
The US Federal Government is one of the largest energy users; it purchases $10–20 billion in
energy-related products annually. With ownership of more than 500,000 buildings, including
422,000 housing structures, the Federal Government has a tremendous interest in energy
efficiency in buildings.
The Energy Policy Act of 1992 and Executive Order 13123 set goals for energy reduction and
provide some guidelines for implementing conservation measures and renewable energy
measures. Annual energy use in Federal buildings has dropped from 140,000 Btu/sq ft (1,600
MJ/m2) in 1985 to 116,000 Btu/ sq ft (1,300 MJ/m2) in 1997. To meet the Executive Order 13123
requirements, annual energy use must drop to 90,800 Btu/sq ft (1,000 MJ/m2) by 2010.
EO13123 also directs agencies to significantly increase the use of renewable energy and to
install 20,000 solar energy systems by 2010. Agencies have set a goal of 2.5 percent of Federal
energy use from renewables by 2010 from green power purchases, on-site renewable energy
projects, or other projects developed on Federal land.
Executive Order (E.O.) 13514; Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic
Performance; was signed on October 5, 2009. http://www.ofee.gov/execorders.asp It expands
upon the energy and environmental performance requirements of previous Executive Orders. In
particular, it requires that all new Federal buildings, entering the design phase in 2020 or later,
are designed to achieve zero net energy by 2030.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/regulations/printable_versions/eo13423.html
Refer to “Greening Federal Facilities: An Energy, Environmental, and Economic Resource Guide
for Federal Facility Managers and Designers" http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/29267-0.pdf
Renewables are characterized by a high initial cost and low operating cost, and are often
designed to minimize life cycle cost.
toxicity/IEQ: Electric renewables systems include battery storage if off-grid, and safeguards
should be taken while installing and maintaining the electrolyte and batteries shall be properly
recycled at the end of their useful life.
While there are well-known concerns regarding the toxic components of batteries, overall the
systems that utilize renewable energy sources are generally considered to be less hazardous to
human health and environmental health because they do not involve the combustion of a fossil
fuel.
performance: This is a rapidly changing field. DOE – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) offer resources for renewable
energy, green power, and high performance buildings. Refer to http://www.nrel.gov/ and to
http://www.eere.energy.gov
http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org
01/04/2010
48 30 00 (13600) - 1
Biomass Energy Electrical Power Generation
Whole Building Design Guide
Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers
Energy can be derived from biomass by burning it directly, by converting it into energy-rich gases
(gasification) that can fuel advanced gas turbines or fuel cells, and by converting it into liquid fuels
(biofuels) that can fuel vehicles and other power-supply equipment. Biomass power systems
range in size from a few kW (enough for an average U.S. home) up to 80 MW for power plants.
In today’s “direct-fired” biomass power plants, generation costs are about $0.09/kWh. DOE
estimates that future, advanced technologies such as gasification-based systems could generate
power for as little as $0.05/kWh.
Other options for renewable energy include contracting for “green power” generated and supplied
by a utility. Refer to Section 01 81 30 Green Power Requirements.
PART 1
1.1
GENERAL
SUMMARY
A.
1.2
Section Includes:
1.
Biomass Energy Systems(s)
SUBMITTALS
A.
Product data. Unless otherwise indicated, submit the following for each type of
product provided under work of this Section:
SPECIFIER NOTE:
Specifying local materials may help minimize transportation impacts; however it may not have a
significant impact on reducing the overall embodied energy of a building material because of
efficiencies of scale in some modes of transportation.
Green building rating systems frequently include credit for local materials. Transportation impacts
include: fossil fuel consumption, air pollution, and labor.
USGBC-LEED™ v3 includes credits for materials extracted/harvested and manufactured within a
500 mile radius from the project site. Green Globes US also provides points for materials that are
locally manufactured.
1.
Local/Regional Materials:
a.
Sourcing location(s): Indicate location of extraction, harvesting,
and recovery; indicate distance between extraction, harvesting,
and recovery and the project site.
b.
Manufacturing location(s): Indicate location of manufacturing
facility; indicate distance between manufacturing facility and the
project site.
c.
Product Value: Indicate dollar value of product containing
local/regional materials; include materials cost only.
d.
Product Component(s) Value: Where product components are
sourced or manufactured in separate locations, provide location
information for each component. Indicate the percentage by
weight of each component per unit of product.
SPECIFIER NOTE:
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (also known as the 2008 U.S. Farm Bill) largely
continues programs of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill)
http://www.usda.gov/farmbill/
Section 9002 requires each Federal Agency to develop a
procurement program which will assure that items composed of biobased products will be
purchased to the maximum extent practicable and which is consistent with applicable provisions
of Federal procurement law. USDA designates biobased products for preferred Federal
procurement and recommends biobased content levels for each designated product.
http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org
01/04/2010
48 30 00 (13600) - 2
Biomass Energy Electrical Power Generation
Whole Building Design Guide
Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers
USGBC-LEED™ v3 includes credits for use of rapidly renewable materials, which USGBC
describes as plants harvested within a ten-year cycle.
Green Globes – US, provides credit for integration of materials from renewable sources that have
been selected based on life-cycle assessment.
2.
Biobased materials:
a.
Indicate type of biobased material in product.
b.
Indicate the percentage of biobased content per unit of product.
c.
Indicate relative dollar value of biobased content product to total
dollar value of product included in project.
SPECIFIER NOTE:
USGBC-LEED™ v3 includes credit for using on-site renewable energy for minimum 1 percent of
the building’s total annual energy. Credit is also offered for green power contracting. The
contract must provide minimum 2-years of renewable energy for a minimum 35 percent of the
building’s total energy.
FEMP references green power as per the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e program.
USGBC-LEED™ v3 also cites the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e program. Refer to
http://www.green-e.org/
3.
Renewable Energy:
a.
Submit manufacturer’s product data for system.
b.
Submit calculations indicating the energy produced by the
system relative to the total energy demand for the building.
c.
Submit Letter of Certification from system provider indicating that
energy produced by the system represents minimum [1] [3] [5]
[7] [9] [11] [13] [xxxx] of the total energy demand for the
building.
B.
1.3
Submit environmental data in accordance with Table 1 of ASTM E2129 for
products provided under work of this Section.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
SPECIFIER NOTE:
As defined in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, for purposes of Federal procurement
of biobased products, “biobased” means a “commercial or industrial product (other than food or
feed) that is composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products or renewable
domestic agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials) or forestry
materials.” Biobased materials also include fuels, chemicals, building materials, or electric power
or heat produced from biomass as defined by The Biomass Research and Development Act of
2000.
According to the January 11, 2005 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Guidelines for
Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement, biobased content is a percentage of the
carbon in the product. The USDA will recommend the minimum biobased content of biobased
products designated in the Federal Biobased Products Preferred Procurement Program, 7 CFR
Part 2902. For current designations under the Federal Biobased Products Preferred
Procurement Program (FB4P), refer to www.biobased.oce.usda.gov.
A.
Biomass Energy Systems:
1.
Performance:
ASTM E1758- Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbohydrates
in Biomass by High Performance Liquid Chromatography
ASTM E1821- Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbohydrates
in Biomass by Gas Chromatography
ASTM E1721- Standard Test Method for Determination of Acid-Insoluble
Residue in Biomass
http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org
01/04/2010
48 30 00 (13600) - 3
Biomass Energy Electrical Power Generation
Whole Building Design Guide
Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers
2.
ASTM E1755- Standard Test Method for Ash in Biomass
ASTM E1690- Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethanol
Extractives in Biomass
Biobased Content: Minimum [50] [100] [xxxx] percent for biomass fuel
material.
PART 2
PRODUCTS
SPECIFIER NOTE:
EO 13423 includes requirements for Federal Agencies to “… improve energy efficiency and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions … by (i) 3 percent annually through the end of fiscal year
2015, or (ii) 30 percent by the end of fiscal year 2015, relative to the baseline of … year 2003”
and to “…ensure that (i) at least half of the statutorily required renewable energy consumed …
comes from new renewable sources [sources of renewable energy placed into service after
January 1, 1999] and (ii) … the agency implements renewable energy generation … for agency
use”
Under EO 13423, renewable energy means “energy produced by solar, wind, biomass, landfill
gas, ocean (including tidal, wave, current and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new
hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity
at an existing hydroelectric project”
Executive Order 13514; Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic
Performance; was signed on October 5, 2009. http://www.ofee.gov/execorders.asp It expands
upon the energy and environmental performance requirements of previous Executive Orders. In
particular, it requires that all new Federal buildings, entering the design phase in 2020 or later,
are designed to achieve zero net energy by 2030.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/regulations/printable_versions/eo13423.html
2.1
EQUIPMENT
SPECIFIER NOTE:
Decisions as to appropriateness of system requirements and design are dependent upon project
goals and location. Coordinate with Divisions 22, 23, and 26 (15 and 16).
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.X
SITE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEDURES
A.
Resource Management:
1.
Energy Efficiency: Verify equipment is properly installed, connected, and
adjusted. Verify that equipment is operating as specified.
2.
Renewable Energy: Verify proper operation in all modes of system
operation by testing. Verify proper operation under a wide range of
conditions to verify energy delivery as calculated for those conditions.
END OF SECTION
http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org
01/04/2010
48 30 00 (13600) - 4
Biomass Energy Electrical Power Generation